Education

Education related data:

Illiteracy: India has 35% of the world’s total illiterates. [2008]

Out of school children: 320 lakh in 2001-02 | 76 lakh in 2007-08.

Energy

 

 

State-wise Release of Funds for Solar Energy Programmes

(Rs. in Lakhs)

State-wise
Manufacturers of Solar  Photovoltaic Cells
/Modules, Solar Water Heaters and Solar Cookers

 

S. No.	State	Solar Cells	SPV Modules	FPC based Solar water heaters	ETC based Solar water heaters	Box type solar cookers	Concentrating solar cookers
1.	Andhra Pradesh	1	6	5	3		1
2.	Gujarat			4	2	5	3
3.	Haryana				1
4.	Himachal Pradesh			1
5.	Karnataka	3	6	27	8		4
6.	Kerala		1		3		1
7.	Madhya Pradesh					1	1
8.	Maharashtra		1	15	13		4
9.	Punjab		1	2		1
10.	Rajasthan		1				1
11.	Tamil Nadu	2	2	3	3		1
12.	Uttar Pradesh	2	2			2	1
13.	Uttrakhand			1
14.	West Bengal	1	1		2	1
15.	Delhi			1	8	1	4
	Total	9	21	59	43	11	21

            This information
was given by the Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Vilas Muttemwar
in a written reply to a question by Shri N.R. Govindarajar in the Rajya Sabha
today.

 

Foreign trade

EXPORTS UP BY 26.59% DURING MARCH 2008

FOREIGN TRADE DATA – APRIL-MARCH 2008

India’s exports during March, 2008 were valued at US $ 16282.79 million which was 26.59 per cent higher than the level of US $ 12862.40 million during March, 2007. In rupee terms, exports touched Rs.65710.71 crore, which was 16.04 per cent higher than the value of exports during March, 2007. Cumulative value of exports for the period April-March, 2008 was US$ 155512.49 million (Rs.625471.22 crore) as against US $ 126413.99 million (Rs.571779 crore) registering a growth of 23.02 per cent in Dollar terms and 9.39 per cent in Rupee terms over the same period last year.

India’s imports during March, 2008 were valued at US $ 23174.94 million representing an increase of 35.24 per cent over the level of imports valued at US $ 17136.46 million in March, 2007. In Rupee terms, imports increased by 23.96 per cent. Cumulative value of imports for the period April- March, 2008 was US $ 235910.73 million (Rs.949133.82 crore) as against US $ 185735.17 million (Rs.840506 crore) registering a growth of 27.01 per cent in Dollar terms and 12.92 per cent in Rupee terms over the same period last year.

Oil imports during March, 2008 were valued at US $ 8633.14 million which was 76.6 per cent higher than oil imports valued at US $ 4888.47 million in the corresponding period last year. Oil imports during April- March, 2008 were valued at US $ 77033.57 million which was 35.28 per cent higher than the oil imports of US $ 56945.25 million in the corresponding period last year.

Non-oil imports during March, 2008 were estimated at US $ 14541.79 million which was 18.73 per cent higher than non-oil imports of US $ 12247.99 million in March, 2007. Non-oil imports during April-March, 2008 were valued at US $ 158877.15 million which was 23.36 per cent higher than the level of such imports valued at US$ 128789.74 million in April- March, 2007.

The trade deficit for April- March, 2008 was estimated at US $ 80398.24 million which was higher than the deficit at US $ 59321.18 million during April- March, 2007.

India in the world

India's ranking in various world indices:

Childrens' index: 76 out of 81 countries. [http://www.savethechildren.org/publications/mothers/2008/SOWM-2008-full-report.pdf]

Global Hunger Index: 94 out of 118 countries [International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington]

Happiness ranking: 69 out 98 countries (World Values Survey data)
[http://www.nsf.gov/news/newsmedia/pr111725/pr111725.pdf]
Human Development Index: 126 out of 177 countries.

Mothers' index: ranked 66th out of 71 countries. [http://www.savethechildren.org/publications/mothers/2008/SOWM-2008-full-report.pdf]

Press Freedom Index: 120 out of 169 countries. [http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24025]

Women's index: 64 out of 71 countries.[http://www.savethechildren.org/publications/mothers/2008/SOWM-2008-full-report.pdf]

Judge population ratio

The Law Commission in its 120th Report recommended that the strength of judges per million population may be increased from 10.5 to 50 judges. The present judge strength in India is 14 per million population (approx.). Government has already increased the Judge strength in the High Courts by 152.

With regard to subordinate judiciary, the Supreme court, in its judgement of 21st March, 2002, in All India Judges’ Association & Ors Vs. Union of India & Ors., directed that an increase in the Judge strength from the existing 10.5 per 10 lakh people to 50 judges per 10 lakh people should be effected and implemented within a period of five years in a phased manner to be determined and directed by the Union Ministry of Law. The Central Government have filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court praying that the increase in judge strength in the Union Territories for which Central Government is administratively responsible be allowed based on workload and pendency of cases. The matter is sub-judice. As directed by the apex court, the Central Government also filed an affidavit indicating the quantum of funds required in compliance of the aforesaid Supreme Court’s judgement irrespective of the category of funds that will be drawn.

All State Governments are also party to this case. Under article 235 of the Constitution of India, the administrative control over the members of subordinate judiciary in the States vests with the concerned High Court and the State Government. Accordingly, the Central Government has requested all the State Governments for taking necessary action to increase the judge strength as per the direction of the Supreme Court and also to fill up the vacant posts of judicial officers on urgent basis.

Mobile phone subscribers

The total
mobile subscriber base has increased from 56.88 million in March 2005 to 261.08
million in March 2008.The details of mobile phone subscriber base during the
last three years and the current year along with the growth rate, State-wise,
year-wise are given below:

 

Circle/State-wise details of Mobile phones  for the last three years  w.e.f. 31.03.2005

 

Sr. No.	Name of Circle/ State	Total Mobile phones as on				Growth rate (in %) during the year
		31.03.2005	31.03.2006